Test project draws media
attention
Because of muddy conditions, the official start of the Upper Basin
Water Utilization Test Project to use water for irrigation which
would otherwise end up in Devils Lake, was held in the farm shop of
Virgil Anderson at Niles, which is located along US 2 between Leeds
and Churchs Ferry.
The test site is located 2.5 miles east of Leeds on property owned
by Milo Strand and farmed by Duane Anderson, son of Virgil Anderson.
The quarter-mile long pivot irrigation machine was not started up
that day because it had rained the day before.
Present for the symbolic start-up were US Senator Byron Dorgan and
Lt. Gov.
Jack Dalrymple. Also present were a number of federal and state
officials, members of the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource
Board, the sponsoring organization of the test project, and many
representatives of the news media, including four television
stations.
Mike Connor, manager of the joint board, was master of ceremonies.
Seated at the table for the news media were Connor, Dorgan,
Dalrymple and Dale Frink, state engineer with the water commission.
The site near Leeds is one of 10 test sites which will be monitored
by NDSU to determine if it is feasible to use this water for
irrigation. As Dorgan noted, the answer to flooding may be onions,
cabbage and bell peppers. Two of the test sites will actually raise
these crops and another in Benson County will irrigate alfalfa.
Benson County has two sites, Pierce County one, Ramsey County three,
Rolette County one and Towner County three.
Anderson will irrigate about 60 acres of corn and about 60 acres of
soybeans. His primary expenditure will be for diesel fuel to power a
generator to pump water and produce electricity to power the
irrigation equipment. He expects to offset that additional cost with
increased yields from irrigation.
NDSU researchers will look at whether the water will put too much
salt in the soil.
Estimated total cost of the three-year test project is $1.4 million.
Irrigation equipment cost for the 10 sites is almost $750,000. The
estimated average price per irrigated acre in the project is $1,242
per acre. The expenses of the test portion of the project are
expected to be covered 100% by the project to lessen risks to the
landowner-operator. Upon completion of the project farmers will have
a chance to buy the irrigation equipment at 25% of the original
cost.
"If the project had been in place (since 1993) with 50,000 acres of
irrigated land, the lake level would be about four feet lower than
it is now," said Connor.
If the test project proves to be a success, it will be expanded with
additional state and federal funding. The investment for the state
and federal governments would be far less than other solutions to
the flooding problem. Utilizing water in this manner would also
result in additional income for farmers. NDSU estimates $481 per
acre additional income from irrigation.
Funding for the project has come from local businesses, economic
development groups, financial institutions and utilities in the
Devils Lake Basin ($100,000), the State Water Commission (up to
$302,000) and federal funding obtained by Dorgan ($900,000). The
funds are administered by the North Central Planning Council.
The startup of the test irrigation site drew a large number of media
people to the Virgil Anderson farm shop at Niles. US Sen. Byron
Dorgan (center) is being interviewed by one television station while
Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple (second from left in foreground) is
interviewed by another station.
Standing on the right are Mike Connor of Starkweather, manager of
the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board, and Bob Valeu, an
employee of Sen. Dorgan.
Four television stations, as well as radio stations and newspapers,
were represented at the gathering June 1 in the farm shop. Also
present were a number of area farmers and other interested
individuals. At the table in the foreground facing the gathering
are, left to right, Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Mike Connor, Sen. Byron
Dorgan and Dale Frink.

Howards both cancer
survivors
Bernie and Eugene Howard of Rugby are the featured cancer survivors
at Rugby's Relay For Life this weekend. Both are natives of
Minnewaukan.Editor's note: The following article, which appeared in the June
4, 2005 Pierce County Tribune at Rugby concerns Minnewaukan natives
and cancer survivors Gene and Bernadine Howard. Both are graduates
of Minnewaukan High School, he in 1964 and she in 1965. He is the
son of Rose Howard of Minnewaukan and the late Wilson Howard. She is
the daughter of former Minnewaukan residents Mike and Agnes Haman of
Devils Lake. The Hamans, too, are cancer survivors.
BY SONIA MULLALLY
Pierce County Tribune
A major focus of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is to
honor cancer survivors who are an inspiration for everyone in
attendance. Two survivors featured at this year's event in Rugby on
June 10-11 are Gene and Bernie Howard of Rugby.
"We've come a long way," said Bernie Howard, when asked to reflect
on the years since their family's battle with cancer treatments
first began in 1984. Gene Howard was first diagnosed with a benign
brain tumor that year when he began to have seizures.
"At first no one could figure out what it was," Gene explained. "I
had gone to Dr. Terlecki in Minnewaukan, and he had me go to a
doctor in Grand Forks." Gene went to Grand Forks for a CT scan, and
doctors discovered a large tumor on his brain. The tumor had what
are often described as fingers and couldn't be operated on or
removed. A biopsy revealed the tumor to be benign, but doctors
wanted to try to shrink the tumor and prevent it from further
extending into his brain. So Gene began a six-week-long ordeal with
45 treatments of radiation.
After radiation treatments, doctors were content to keep an eye on
the tumor with regular brain scans. In the meantime, Bernie's own
struggle with cancer began when she was diagnosed with breast cancer
in 1999 after finding a lump purely by accident.
"I had climbed back into bed one morning and was cold so I tucked my
hands under my arms and felt a lump," she said. "And I had just had
a mammogram the month before, and they found nothing. So in that
short time I had developed a lump." After a mastectomy and
chemotherapy treatments, she's proud to say she's been cancer-free
for five years and counting. She's thankful that she found the lump
in time and also that she got through her rounds of chemotherapy
without experiencing sickness from the treatments.
Bernie said at the time when Gene had completed his radiation
doctors told them the treatments had worked to shrink the tumor and
could last him for as long as 20 years. Well, almost. Nineteen years
later, in 2003, Gene began experiencing seizures once again.
"I had an MRI this time, and I had looked at enough of those scans
over the years to know that when I saw those I said, 'I think this
thing is coming back,' " Gene said, referring to the tumor that had
returned.
Gene's tumor was back, and this time it was cancerous. After
aggressive treatments and invasive surgery that left him with
paralysis on his left side, doctors say they removed 98 percent of
the tumor, or as much as they could detect with the microscope.
"They can't and will never say they got it all," said Bernie.
After surgery to remove the tumor, Gene underwent extensive
rehabilitation and physical therapy.
"You never know how much you used your left hand until you can't use
it anymore," Gene said.
Each day brings its challenges. He's taken some spills and had some
pretty tough days, but they both try to remain optimistic and work
to maintain with continued therapy with his in-home caregiver.
"It's been a long road, and he's come so far," Bernie said. "But
it's as good as it's going to get, and we can live with that."
The couple's daughter, Janelle, thought they should agree to be this
year's honorary survivors at the Relay for Life event at Rugby's
Johnsen Field.
Both Gene and Bernie look forward to the event and admit that
participating in the local Relay for Life is very emotional. But
they wouldn't miss it for the world.
"It's a wonderful event," said Bernie. "I just wish even more people
would get involved and see what a great program it really is. If
nothing else, just come out to see the lights and experience what is
so moving about it."
The lights that Bernie refers to are the luminary candles lit in
memory or in honor of someone whose life has been touched by cancer.
Bernie said one positive that has come of their struggles with
cancer over the years is that she and Gene have become closer. Their
two grown children, son Darryl, who lives in Bismarck and daughter,
Janelle Engstrom, who lives on a farm north of Leeds, have been a
great help. "Without our kids, we couldn't have gotten through
this," added Bernie.
As with all struggles in life, with their family and friends by
their side, they can face anything.

Local team finishes first in tourney
The team of Tyler Staloch, left, and Kyle Clifton, right, of
Minnewaukan won the 2005 Casino Cup Walleye Tournament held this
past weekend on Devils Lake at the Spirit Lake Marina, bringing in a
two day weight of 46.75 lbs.
and taking home $5,000 in cash. The two-day fishing event was a huge
success, according to Spirit Lake Marina director, Daniel Lohnes,
center.
Sixty-seven teams participated and came from as far away as
Minnesota and South Dakota. $16,470 was paid out in the tournament,
with the top 15 teams being paid. Staloch and Clifton also advance
to the Big Show in September to also be held at the marina. The
second place team of Jeff Trana of Devils Lake and Rick Darling of
Leeds received $2,500. Their total weight was 46.23 lbs. of
walleyes. Third place and $2,000 went to the team of Dennis Andruski
of East Grand Forks, Minn. and Larry Zimmerman of Napoleon.
Their total weight was 45.04 lbs. Darling also took home a cash
prize for catching the third biggest fish which weighed 8.2 lbs. The
largest walleye caught in the tournament weighed 9.55 lbs. Others
from this area finishing in the money were the teams of Keith
Pierson of Minnewaukan and Scott Steckler of Mandan, Charlie Bisbee
of Leeds and Paul Larson of Rugby and Clint Devier and Randy Myers
of Devils Lake. The marina will host the FLW Outdoors Tournament
June 15-18. The 5th Annual Spirit Lake Marina Walleye Classic Open
will be Sept. 3 and 4 with a $10,000 first place prize, followed by
the Big Show Sept. 17 and 18.

Wins contest
Spirit Water Inn Resort in Minnewaukan, on the western shore of
Devils Lake, has several permanent, year-round residents as well as
guest lodging for visitors to the area.
In April, owners Lisa Wold and Mark and Julie Zillmer asked tenants
to participate in spring grounds cleanup of the former Minnewaukan
Residences.
A prize was offered for the best kept yard.
On Memorial Day weekend, Claire Engelhardt was awarded a prize for
her efforts to beautify her surroundings. Claire's yard is decorated
with hanging baskets, potted plants, perennials and colorful
suncatchers.
"Claire didn't need incentive to make her yard beautiful. She has
been at it for several years," says Lisa Wold. "In the winter, she
brings her geraniums inside and nurses them through the cold season.
We wanted to recognize her for the pride she takes in her home and
thank her for adding color and beauty to the resort and the
community."
Claire received a prize of lawn art and a $50 rent certificate.

Jackson wins out of 18,000
Shaylene Jackson of Warwick holds the Buckle Up Bear she won as part
of this year's Child Passenger Safety Week activities.
The contest, sponsored by the ND Department of Health and the Lake
Region District Health Unit - Benson County, encouraged children to
sign a pledge to buckle up for a chance to win the bear. Shaylene's
name was drawn from about 18,000 pledge forms.
In addition to signing the pledge, children learned the following
safety
tips: buckle up on every trip -- even short ones around town; ride
in the back seat until age 13, even if there are no airbags in the
front seat; wear seat belts correctly with the lap belt low on the
hips and the shoulder belt across the chest; never place a shoulder
belt under the arm or behind the back; children from 40 to 80 pounds
(approximately 4-8 years
old) should ride in a booster seat to help the lap and shoulder belt
fit correctly.

100-year-old to be feted
at birthday party
BY SARA J. PLUM
A couple weeks ago Ole Ronning celebrated his 100th birthday at the
Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake. Cake and coffee were enjoyed
and greeting cards were opened and read. All in all, a nice,
peaceful birthday.
His nieces, nephews and cousins have planned another celebration at
the center on Saturday, June 11 from 2:30 to 4 p.m with a program at
3 p.m.
Friends are encouraged to attend as family from California,
Minnesota, and the area gather in honor of Ole hitting the century
mark. This party may be somewhat boisterous so Ole can hear what's
going on.
Ole was born to Carl Olai and Johanna Ronning May 18, 1905 on the
homestead where the James Fragodt home is now in Harlow. He was the
eldest of four children.
After the homestead burned down, the family moved to a farm in
Pelican Township of Ramsey County. His father died in 1912 and Ole,
along with his mother and three siblings, Tillie, Elizabeth and
Martin, moved back to Harlow in 1915. Johanna built a new home on
the northwest edge of town, the one still standing today on the west
side of ND 30.
The land was rented out until Ole was old enough to farm. At the
ripe old age of 16 he started his farming career with horses in
Butte Valley Township. Ole can remember his first tractor -- a used
15-30 International.
The last tractor he purchased was a brand new 1952 Massey Harris 44.
It cost $2,200.
In the mid-1930s Ole and two of his best friends, Ole Solberg and
Vern Thompson, drove to Washington to find work for the winter.
Solberg got a job as a camp cook at a sheep ranch while the other
two worked on a cattle ranch mucking out stalls. They didn't last
long and made the return trip without Solberg. The smells at his job
were much more pleasant.
The economy turned around and the year 1942 was a busy one for Ole.
He purchased the farm and married a local school teacher, Alma
Rognlie in Fillmore. Even though they didn't have children of their
own, their nieces and nephews kept them occupied. Three of the
nephews, Jim Solberg, Don Anderson and Wayne Ronning spent many
summers at the farm and were known locally as Hughie, Dewey and
Louie, respectively.
Ole farmed until 1980 when he rented the land to Donnie Buchta. Even
though he and Alma moved to an apartment at Central Place in Maddock
in 1993, Ole drove to the farm almost every day to feed the cats. He
did this until his move to the Heartland Care Center in 2000.
Alma died in 1997, bringing an end to their partnership of 54 years.
Through the initial loneliness, his family and friends were there,
just like he and Alma had been there for others in their time of
need. That same year one child from each sibling purchased the farm
to keep the homestead in the family. Ross Hill has been farming the
land since.
The couple compiled the history of Butte Valley Township and Harlow
in 1962 and were among the historians responsible for the history of
the Hathaway School District No. 22 that became the Harlow Diamond
Jubilee and all school reunion book in 1987.
Ole and Alma were active members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in
Harlow until it closed. He also helped maintain the cemetery for
many years.
Becoming 100 years old lends a certain celebrity status. Ole has
received letters from Congressman Pomeroy, Senators Conrad and
Dorgan, President and Laura Bush, and Willard Scott. Of course he's
wondering when the governor of North Dakota is going to send
greetings and will keep watching the mail.
Wayne Ronning, Ole's nephew, told him on his 98th birthday that in
only two more years he will be 100. Ole's reply, "Well, what will I
do then?"
Whatever you darn well please, Ole.
Ole Ronning

Earn awards
The Maddock Elementary Awards Program was held May 20. During the
program the President's Award for Educational Excellence was
awarded. Students receiving this award earned a grade point average
of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and achieved in the 85th percentile
or higher in the area of math or reading on the statewide
standardized test. Students receiving this honor were, left to
right, Rachel Olson, daughter of Daryl and Val Olson; Mackenzie
Bullinger, daughter of Wanda Bullinger and David Bullinger; Preston
Gilderhus, son of Ed Gilderhus and Renae Gilderhus; Ben Backstrom,
son of Dennis and Priscilla Backstrom; Trey Benson, son of Randy and
Melissa Benson; Noah Engels, son of Joe and Merritt Engels; and
Brennan Eyl, son of Morgan Eyl and Michelle Eyl.

Benson County celebrates its
first state championship in track Benson County is a co-op for track
only with athletes from Leeds, Minnewaukan and Maddock and its girls
are state champions.
After finishing runner-up to Carrington each of the last two
seasons, Benson County closed out an awesome year as state champion
of ND High School Girls Class B Track and Field at Memorial Stadium
on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks on
May 28-29.
This was a great way to end the career of Krista Anderson, who was
named senior athlete of the year by the ND High School Coaches
Association. She won her fifth straight 3200 meter run title. Krista
also finished second in the 1600, fifth in the 800 and anchored the
Benson County 3200 relay team to its second consecutive state
championship.
Lindsay Anderson excelled by winning her third state championship in
the 1600 meter run in a new Class B record time of 4:56.96, breaking
her own record set last year. She also finished in second place in
both the 3200 run and 800 run, and anchored the 1600 relay to a
fifth place finish, which solidified the state team championship for
the Wildcats.
Bobbi Grann also had a superb state meet. The Minnewaukan eighth
grader finished second in the 300 hurdles, third in the 400 meters,
ran a fantastic leg in the title-winning 3200 meter relay and ran on
the team title-clinching 1600 meter relay.
"It was a great thrill all weekend," according to co-head coaches
Bobby Hoffner and Jeff Manley. "The cool, rainy weather was pretty
typical for this track season, but our kids just forgot about all
that and just took care of business event after event. We were
hoping for even a couple more points in a few other events, but
other than that, things went almost perfect. It was a great credit
to all 10 girls who qualified that all of their hard work all season
finally paid off."Wildcat girls individual results-
100 meter dash: Sharisa Yri 13.80 in prelims-20th place overall.
400 meter dash: Bobbi Grann 1:01.29 in prelims, 1:00.90 in
finals-3rd place; Jordan Callahan 1:02.30 in prelims-10th place
overall.
800 meter run: Lindsay Anderson 2:16.79-2nd place; Krista Anderson
2:20.66-5th place.
1600 meter run: Lindsay Anderson 4:56.96-1st place (new Class B
state record, new Benson County co-op record and all-time Benson
County schools record); Krista Anderson 4:57.53-2nd place.
3200 meter run: Krista Anderson 10:53.37-1st place; Lindsay Anderson
11:06.85-2nd place.
300 hurdles: Bobbi Grann 47.06 in prelims, 46.00 in finals-2nd
place.
400 relay: Jalissa Hovland, Jessie Schwanke, Brianna Yri, Sharisa
Yri 55.78 in prelims-21st place overall.
800 relay: Jalissa Hovland, Jessie Schwanke, Sharisa Yri, Jordan
Callahan 1:52.40 in prelims-11th place overall.
1600 relay: Jordan Callahan, Katrece Thompson, Bobbi Grann, Lindsay
Anderson 4:10.74-5th place.
3200 relay: Katrece Thompson, Jordan Callahan, Bobbi Grann, Krista
Anderson 9:41.08-1st place.
Long jump: Jalissa Hovland 15'3.75" in prelims-16th place overall.

Mother Nature was not kind to Friday's action, but it wasn't cruel
enough to stop Benson County from grabbing the first day lead in the
girls division with 28 points. Bottineau was in second place with 23
points.
Carrington had 3.5 points going into the final day of competition.
In all, scorers for Benson County in the girls division were Lindsay
Anderson 27.00, Krista Anderson 24.50, Bobbi Grann 17.50, Katrece
Thompson 3.50, and Jordan Callahan 3.50. Those 76 points propelled
the Wildcats to the team title.
Benson County outscored Carrington 76 to 68.5, marking the first
time since
1999 that the Cardinals failed to win a state championship.
Bottineau (68), Milnor-Wyndmere-Lidgerwood (49) and Hazen (44)
rounded out the top five.
Carrington, which was looking to tie Hazen for the most consecutive
Class B team titles with seven, was denied its spot in history.
The Benson County boys team also had four athletes compete but none
were able to score in the top eight. The best effort came from
sophomore Jordan Backstrom who set a personal best in the triple
jump at 39'10.25" to finish in 12th place overall.Other Wildcat boys individual results-
110 hurdles: Caleb Backstrom 17.37 in prelims-12th place overall.
300 hurdles: Caleb Backstrom 44.62 in prelims-18th place overall.
Pole vault: Michael Tofsrud missed opening height of 11'0".
3200 meter run: Colton Bullinger 11:33.98-22nd place overall.New records were set in 2005 for Benson County Wildcat girls
track and field:
800 meter run: Lindsay Anderson, 2:15.88 (old record 2:19.12 by
Lindsay Anderson, 2004).
1600 meter run: Lindsay Anderson, 4:56.96 (old record 4:58.04 by
Lindsay Anderson, 2004).
100 hurdles: Jessie Schwanke, 17.11 (old record 17.69 by Bobbi Grann,
2004).
300 hurdles: Bobbi Grann, 45.68 (old record 48.09 by Bobbi Grann,
2004).
Long jump: Jalissa Hovland, 16'5.5" (tied old record 16'5.5" by
LeeAnn Van Dolah, 2003)
Shot-put: Kaidi Kenner, 30'7" (old record 29'1" by Shannon Schloss,
2004).
Javelin: Courtney Foss, 107'3", (old record 101'9" by Tessa
Haagenson, 2002).Girls individual points for the season: Bobbi Grann 223.75,
Lindsay Anderson 192.50, Krista Anderson 170.50, Jalissa Hovland
162.00, Jordan Callahan 130.25, Jessie Schwanke 97.35, Katrece
Thompson 70.75, Courtney Foss 66.50, Erin Leier 64.75, Brianna Yri
22.50, Sharisa Yri 22.25, Michelle Olson 7.75, Kaidi Kenner 4.00,
Shannon Schloss 2.50, Kendall Boyles 2.50, Kaia Pranke 2.25, Ashley
Manley 2.00, Sam Swanson 1.50, and Nicole Stone 1.50.Other Wildcat participants in the girls division included:
Denage Braaten, Samantha Kaul, Hannah Anderson, Brenna Stone, Kayla
Bingham, Lacey King, Kara Kallenbach, and Suzie Treetop.New records were set in 2005 for Benson County Wildcat boys track
and field:
Pole vault: Michael Tofsrud, 10'6" (tied old record 10'6" by Patrick
Buriss, 2002).
Shot-put: Mark Wack Jr., 46'4" (old record 45'1.5" by Mark Wack Jr.,
2004).
Discus: Mark Wack Jr., 133'8.25" (old record 133'2" by Barent
Grondahl, 2001).
Javelin: Mark Wack Jr., 155'6" (old record 147'9" by Andrew Jarboe,
2002).
Boys individual points for the season: Mark Wack Jr. 214.00, Caleb
Backstrom 207.50, Jordan Backstrom 133.75, Colton Bullinger 98.00,
Michael Tofsrud 73.25, Ben Grann 55.00, J.T. Rice 52.75, Beau
Buehler 45.00, Andy Backstrom 35.50, Bryan Randle 32.00, Reid
Haagenson 15.50, Brian Johnson 11.00, Daniel Harkness 8.50, Gabe
DuBois 5.00, Derek Engh 4.00, Joe Rameden 2.25, Tyler Sears 2.00,
Vince Fox 1.00, Jay Baker 1.00, Nick Severson 1.00, and Tyler Schell
.75.Other Wildcat participants in the boys division included:
Dallas Welch, Dakota Gillespie, John Sears, Jesse Brandvold, Jordan
Smith, Jason Smith, Kyle Britsch, Blake Zietz, Mitch Olson, Josh
Owens, Brad Nelsen, and Elliot Gunderson. (Photos by John and Donna
Grann and Bobby Hoffner)
Things went well for Benson County and Krista Anderson got her hands
on the first state track championship trophy. Standing, left to
right, are co-head coach Larry Moser, co-head coach Jeff Manley,
Lindsay Anderson, Bobbi Grann, Jalissa Hovland, Brianna Yri, Jessie
Schwanke, assistant coach Mike Callahan and co-head coach Bobby
Hoffner. Kneeling are Sharisa Yri, Erin Leier, Krista Anderson,
Katrece Thompson and Jordan Callahan. Not pictured are assistant
coach Charles Morganroth and statisticians Kimberly Randle and Katie
Clifton.
It came down to the last track event of the day. Benson County held
a slim 3.5-point lead over Carrington going into the final event --
the 1600 relay
-- but nobody messes with Wildcat runners, who could put together
their fastest time of the season. Left to right are Lindsay
Anderson, Katrece Thompson, Bobbi Grann and Jordan Callahan, who
wrapped things up with a fifth-place finish. Carrington, the No. 1
seed, did not place in the event.
The result was a state championship for Benson County.
Bobbi Grann (center) and her opponents run side-by-side in the 300
meter hurdles at the state track and field meet. It didn't take long
for Grann to become one of Class B's top performers in the 300 meter
hurdles. She did it in two years' time. She started hurdling as a
seventh grader. One year later, she clipped more than two seconds
off of that mark. Pingree-Buchanan junior Whitney Carlson (not
pictured) turned in a time of 42.76 to win the event. Grann was
runner-up. Carlson runs for Carrington.
Bobbi Grann's third-place finish in the 400 launched her onto the
awards stand. She was seeded No. 8 going into the competition.
Minnewaukan's Ron Carlson, a member of the ND High School Activities
Association board of directors, is shown presenting a plaque to her.
Bobbi also had top times in the 800 meter run and the 400 meter
relay and 800 meter relay, but could only compete in four events at
the state meet.
Benson County and its strong distance program has a sister act.
Lindsay Anderson, right, and Krista Anderson embrace after finishing
second and fifth, respectively, in the 800 at the state track and
field meet. The pair guided Benson County to its first overall state
title. Lindsay runs the same events as Krista. The two train
together and often on remote roads near their family farm outside of
Leeds. They are the daughters of Greg and Karen Anderson.
Krista Anderson was named the Class B Girls Senior Athlete of the
Year.
North Dakota as a state has had few distance runners better than
her. She has done a lot in past years while burning up the track for
Benson County.
The Leeds senior recently announced plans to attend the University
of Iowa to compete in cross-country and track and major in
elementary education.
Lindsay Anderson left her competition behind on a cold, windy, rainy
day.
The freshman from Leeds High School won her third straight state
Class B title in the 1600, holding off a challenge from older
sister, Krista on the backstretch. Lindsay wasn't sure she could
hold off her sister in the final 200 meters. Krista, who came in
second, hung on the heels of her sister for much of the race but
couldn't take the lead. Both youngsters broke Lindsay's state record
of 4:58.04 established last spring.
The 3200 meter relay team scored big, finding itself on the awards
stand with a second state title. Left to right are Krista Anderson,
Bobbi Grann, Katrece Thompson and Jordan Callahan, who teamed up to
win the event.
Benson County had no problem taking first over runner-up New Town by
more than six seconds.
Leeds' distance runners Krista Anderson (foreground) and sister
Lindsay compete in the 3200 meter run at the Class B state track
meet. Krista went on to win the race by about 100 meters and Lindsay
was runner-up. Krista hadn't been beaten in the race by a North
Dakota opponent since her seventh-grade year. She also holds the
overall state meet record in the event. Krista ran the event 17
seconds slower than the record-setting time she ran in 2004, but
still managed to come out victorious.
Members of the Benson County Wildcats are cruising in a pack during
opening ceremonies of the state meet. The tracksters shined in lots
of events. A biting wind and a steady drizzle were kind of hard to
deal with.